Sunday, April 28, 2013

Like any true Winnipegger, I love a deal. So, when
Safeway advertised a 3 day special on their large bricks of cheese last weekend,
I headed over to get one.

Now, these aren't just any bricks - they are all random
weight but are all marked at the same price. A savvy shopper will rummage through
the whole lot to find the heaviest one for an even better deal. "Supposedly"
these are all approx 700-720 grams but many are under that weight. If you are
lucky, you will sometimes find ones that are even more - hence the best deal!

I gathered most of the items on my grocery list then
headed for the cheese. As I walked up, a blond woman in a red jacket was crouched
down, sorting through the aged cheddar. I said: "I assume you are also
looking for the largest piece?" She said she was and wished me luck as she
walked away.

I set my basket down, laid my white cane across the top
of it, pulled out my pocket magnifier and started looking through my preference
of medium cheddar. The woman returned a minute or so later and said there was
also a display case at the end of the aisle with more of the bricks and she had
found a larger one there. I thanked her and continued looking.

As I'd find a heavy package, I'd tentatively set it in my
basket then continue the search for a larger one. When I did find larger, I'd
switch out the lighter one from my basket.

Now, given my limited vision, it can take me a few
minutes to sort through even a couple dozen bricks or so. I'd just found a
rather large one - 828g! (WOOT WOOT!) - when a male voice to my left said
"excuse me..."

I looked up and realized he was holding a brick of
cheese. He said a woman had suggested he could probably find a larger piece
than he had. I moved my basket so he could also look and said that there were
definitely heavier ones if you looked and what was the point of buying any
package without getting the heaviest - especially on sale? He agreed.

Since I was about to return the second largest piece I'd
found to the dairy case, I offered it to him. He asked if I was sure I didn't
want it. I assured him that no, I'd found one slightly larger so he was welcome
to it if he wanted it. He said thanks. I also told him about the additional
display case if he wanted to check it out as well.

As I began to restack all the pieces I'd moved in my
search, I assumed that he would just keep shopping - but he didn't.

He asked about my vision. I explained that with my
monocular, I could see a route number a couple bus lengths away or enough to
know when the light across the street was green and it was safe enough to
cross. With my pocket magnifier, I could read prices on most shelf labels and I
also had reading glasses for other things. I added that I had no depth
perception or peripheral vision.

Being asked about my vision isn't that uncommon and I
always try to reply in terms that people can relate to.

What surprised me ... no, make that shocked me, about this exchange was what he said next.

I don't recall the exact
phrasing, but it was along the lines of: "So with your limited vision
and a face like mine, you'd be the perfect woman for me."

Now anyone who knows me, knows that I am rarely at a loss
for words, but I was momentarily speechless.

WHOA! Did he just say that? Was he
trying to be funny or was he actually flirting with me?

I couldn't be sure.

Even though he was only standing a few feet from me, I
couldn't see his face well enough to tell any real characteristics. To the best
of my sight and recollection he was white, clean shaven, dark hair and wore no
glasses. He wore a dark jacket - either charcoal or black - and dark pants. He
was average height and build from what I could tell. I have no idea how old he
was, but sensed that he may have been younger than me.

Let me be frank here. Guys do NOTflirt with me! Most
barely give me the time of day let alone engage in conversation or make a
flirtatious remark. I'm no beauty by any stretch, yet here was this guy...
being polite and friendly...

Was he nuts or sincere?

Though it was only a few seconds, my brain - unfortunately
- slipped into self protective mode before I could fully process all of this. With
a polite chuckle, I said "Oh, I don't know about that!" I think he smiled,
then said thanks for the cheese, wished me a good day and walked past me
towards the end of the aisle.

Oh
crap, why did I say that!?!? Why didn't I say something
like, "Well, maybe we should at least get to know each other before you
make a final decision?"

I wanted to call out after him, but I couldn't speak. I
didn't want to make the guy uncomfortable if he was self conscious about his
appearance or embarrass both of us if it had all been a joke...

So, I watched him walk away.

I'd like to believe he was flirting, but I don't know who
he was, his name or anything more about him. I have no idea whether we'd have
hit it off or not.

I may never know if it was a joke or if he was sincere.

Where's the time machine when you really need it? I want a do over!

Taking a chance isn't always easy - especially if we
don't consider our outer packaging to be that attractive. I've lived it and
been hurt by rejection. It isn't fun but sometimes, there are people who are
sincere - who really do want to get to know who is on the inside of the so
called flawed packaging. They are the true souls worth having in our lives. We
have to learn to give those souls room to find us and carefully let them into
our world and allow ourselves to be a part of theirs.

I don't know if you will ever read this but, if you were the guy who spoke to me in the cheese
section of the Osborne Village Safeway on Friday, April, 19 at about 9:30AM -
I'm sorry I wasn't more open. Our conversation was brief - maybe a couple of
minutes, but I was intrigued. I sincerely hope that our paths cross again. Since
you have the advantage of sight, I hope you'll say hello.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Well, I don't know what the weather has been like in your
area, but here in Winnipeg, it is still more like Winterpeg despite being April
14!

The snow was starting to melt - slowly. Then, our beloved Mother Nature decided that things were
looking rather drab so dropped fresh covers of white stuff (aka snow) on us.
Not once mind you, but this unwelcome addition occurred at several times last
weekend. Friday night, Saturday, and on Sunday!

This was my view last Sunday afternoon:

Over the Easter weekend, I watched part of a Bugs Bunny
and Looney Tunes Marathon on Teletoon Retro. Among the cartoons shown, was the
1961 classic "The Abominable Snow Rabbit". In it, Bugs and Daffy are
supposedly burrowing their way to warmer weather in Palm Springs and
inadvertently make a wrong turn and end up in the chilly Himalaya's! The usual
hilariously looney hijink's ensue as they meet up with the Abominable Snowman
who has always wanted a pet rabbit....

Anyways, given our unending winter it could well have
been chilly Manitoba that Bugs and Daffy landed in! All they wanted - like many
of us - was escape to a warmer environment!

But no, it seems we have entered our own version of the
winter that never ends!

Unlike the Abominable Snowman chasing after Bugs to a
warmer climate, we can't lead Mother Nature's wintery wrath away from us so we
can thaw out.

And, despite the date on the calendar, there is a
possibility of some more of the unwanted white stuff over the next day or two!

I've tried to be nice about it, but winter has overstayed
it's welcome.

Sorry snow lovers but it is time to pack up the winter
toys and unite in an effort to thwart the continued efforts of winter to hang
around!

A bit extreme, perhaps but the desire to be rid of our
wintery trappings is very real!

Despite advances in meteorology, this techie solution
doesn't seem to be working either:

So what are we to do?

Too bad we can't set up a giant magnifying glass to melt
the stuff! How about a series of blow torches? No, that might cause more
problems with unexpected fires. Although there certainly would be lots of snow
to melt and put out the fires with.

Okay, so we stick with the normal melting patterns. GRRR!

Oh well, a slow melt is definitely what is best given the
risk for flooding.

However, at this point farmers are also starting to get concerned
about how much snow is still to melt on their fields. The snow has to melt and
the ground be dry enough to actually work before they can begin seeding. Most
crops need to be in by late May to ensure a reasonable growing season before
temps drop in the fall. That may be over a month from now, but it takes time to
melt all that snow and favourable weather conditions to be able to seed. If
they don't get a decent growing season then there will be production shortages for
both human and livestock consumption. That would result in higher prices
overall - which won't make anybody happy!

I know we have to let nature take its course and melt at
whatever speed it decides to but the vast majority of us are getting a bit
impatient here.

Some are trying to be optimistic by pointing out that at
least we don't have mosquito's and that the AC isn't running! True, but we are
still running our furnaces thanks to the cool temps! Heck, this past Monday
night, we had an overnight low of -20C! Throw in a windchill and it felt more
like -27C outside! This is April NOT January!!!!

I heard a solitary Canada Goose honking as it flew over
in the pre-dawn hours a little over a week ago. Though I don't pretend to
understand the goose language, I strongly suspect that the incessant honking
could be interpreted as "What
the....? The flock sent me ahead to check out the landscape and all I see is
ice and snow! Are you freaking kidding me? Mother Nature is off her meds
again!"

More geese have reportedly been spotted in the area since
that morning - as well as a few other migratory birds, but they sure aren't
happy about what they have come home to!

The slow melt is also wreaking havoc with road
conditions. The streets are mostly dry, but any moisture that flows onto
streets from curbside snow piles creates mini lakes that thaws in the day and
freezes at night. The drainage systems to catch that melting snow also tend to
freeze and thaw with the current weather, resulting in ice jams and massive
puddles. These are prime sources for creating pot holes. They are expensive to
repair and even more expensive should your vehicle hit a pot hole!!

This slow melt thing is also making mobility harder for
those of us who don't have the agility of a mountain goat! Whether you use a
cane, a walker, a scooter or are visually impaired such as I am, winter
mobility is a challenge. We dread having to go out in those first few days
after a snowfall. The spring melt means rutted skating rinks on sidewalks and
being sprayed by the mini lakes along the curbs that cars seem to love to speed
through.

The city does a semi decent job clearing sidewalks - but
it really does depend on where you live. Residential sidewalks aren't plowed nearly
as often or as well as those on main thoroughfares or designated snow routes.
There are many seniors and people with mobility issues who have felt like prisoners
in their homes the past few months. The city's web site is still reporting
"difficult" conditions for persons with mobility issues.

I reside along a designated snow route, however thanks to
the snowbanks on either side of the fairly decently plowed sidewalks, the
melting often creates rivers of slush, frozen ruts and/or skating rinks.

Though I own a decent pair of ice grips that can be
slipped onto my boots, these are not suitable for indoor use. In other words, I
either leave them at home or remove them before entering some businesses so as
not to damage their flooring. The grips are a very snug fit to the footwear -
so they do not slip off easily. Trying to put them on or remove them while
wearing full winter garb can be even more of a challenge.

So you can risk life and limb on ice covered sidewalks or
walk on the streets - close to the curb and facing traffic whenever possible.
Neither option is much fun but that, unfortunately, is the choice when you live
in Winterpeg.

Personally I miss being able to get out and truly enjoy
the somewhat milder temperatures - even though they are still several degrees
below the seasonal norm of +10C. We won't be seeing temps that high for at
least another week!

I know that spring will eventually arrive and all too
soon we will most likely be griping about the heat and the mosquito's but at
this point, I think most of us would be quite happy with some seasonable
temperatures and noticeable decreases in the white stuff on the ground.

SO, Mother Nature, we'd really appreciate some
cooperation here. What do you say we call a truce for now and you move the
wintery princess routine to the southern hemisphere until, hmm - say late
November or early December?

Yeah, yeah, I know you'll handle it your way. I just had
to ask though!

About Me

I was born in the late 50's and raised on a prairie farm. I've lived in Winnipeg since 1984. I have always had low vision but have been legally blind since 1990.
I have a wickedly warped sense of humour and love to laugh.
My interests include; music, baking, cooking, mysteries and much more.
You will learn more about me as you read the posts.